Justice Bhuyan Warns Against Disenfranchising Millions of Voters

Supreme Court Justice Ujjal Bhuyan has warned against electoral processes that could remove large numbers of citizens from voter lists without proper safeguards. Speaking at a moot court event in Hyderabad on October 4, 2026, Justice Bhuyan stressed the importance of the right to vote under Article 326 of the Constitution. He said authorities must follow due process before removing a person’s name from the electoral roll. This includes giving the voter proper notice and an opportunity to respond. Justice Bhuyan said losing the right to vote is a serious matter and compared it to “taking out the soul from the body.” His remarks come amid a wider debate over voter list revisions and the need to keep electoral rolls accurate. Reports have raised concerns about large-scale exclusions at the draft stage during voter roll revision exercises. At the same time, election authorities have maintained the need to remove duplicate, incorrect and ineligible entries from voter lists. However, the process has also raised questions about how authorities can protect genuine voters from wrongful exclusion. Justice Bhuyan’s comments highlight the need to balance clean electoral rolls with the voting rights of citizens. The Constitution provides safeguards for the electoral process, and any removal of a voter’s name must follow the required legal process. The debate has gained attention as election authorities continue efforts to update voter records across the country. The issue remains important because even a small error in voter records can prevent an eligible citizen from taking part in an election.